If you’re looking for a good part-time business that offers a useful service to a broad spectrum of customers, learn how to start a knife sharpening business. Knives of home cooks and professional chefs need to be sharpened from time to time. And although there are some home sharpening devices that work well enough, if you want a sharp edge that will last, you need to turn to professional equipment. Many different types of sharpeners are available for professional use and the type you select will depend on the types of blades you will sharpen. Restaurant knives are one area you could focus on, but if you decide to broaden your business beyond knives you could also add in lawn tools and salon sheers. Once you have selected your target market and have purchased your sharpening equipment, you can start practicing your craft. There are training programs available if you don’t know how to get started. Without the proper care, sharpening can actually damage blade surfaces so you need to be sure you have the proper training and experience before handling your customers’ knives and scissors. How you market your business will depend on what type of blade sharpening services you will offer. If you will focus on sharpening salon sheers, print up business cards and travel around town visiting local salons. If your customers will be in the lawn care industry, call local lawn care and landscaping businesses or mail them information about your business. Knife sharpening is one of the most versatile business ideas since it can be run from home, from a storefront or from the road. Consider offering mobile sharpening services to increase the convenience factor for your customers. Place advertising on your vehicle to boost the visibility of your new business. Regardless of who your customers are and how you choose to run your business, it is crucial that you stick to the turnaround time you give your clients. Using their knives, scissors and hedge trimmers is how they make their living and they cannot do without them for very long. Keeping an item longer than promised will not only eat into your customer’s profits, it will reflect poorly on your business and you are less likely to see that particular customer in the future. Excellent sharpening skills and customer service will turn this part-time business into a success.

A Day in the Life of a Knife Sharpening Business Owner:

This article brought to you by Business Ideas! If you enjoyed this article, make sure to subscribe to the Business Ideas Newsletter to get ideas sent straight to your email inbox.Your day will begin with a check of any appointments you have. If you offer pick-up services, you will travel to your customer’s home or place of business and take the items that need to be sharpened back to your home or office. You will also accept items brought to your home or office. You will spend most of your day sharpening various items and either returning them or arranging a pick-up time with your customers. When you’re not working on any items, you will call and visit potential customers in your target market and let them know about your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals in need of blade sharpening. They could be chefs, hairdressers, lawn care professionals, etc.

What You Need to Start:

Blade sharpener

Sharpening skills

Marketing plan and materials

Vehicle (if offering pick-up and delivery services)

Computer with finance software

The Good:

Demand for blade sharpening will always be high.

You can select from a variety of customers to target.

The start-up investment needed is low.

You can easily run this business part-time.

You can choose to run this business from home, from a storefront or operate a mobile business.

The Bad:

It can take some time to build your client list.

You must be properly trained to ensure you don’t damage your customers’ items.

Each month, we give you ONE (and no more than one) "marketing project" to complete in your business.

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